Writing-machine.



(Nu Modal.)

Patented July 30, l90l.

E. B. HESS.

WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Kay 16, 1901.)

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UNTTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD B. HESS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MECHANICALIMPROVEMENTS COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

WRITING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,673, dated July 30,1901.

Application filed May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,537. (No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. HEss, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWriting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for actuating the type-bars and issubordinate to the generic claims made in my application filed April 26,1901, Serial No. 57,588.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection showing such parts of a machine as to illustrate the oneapplication of the invention; Fig. 2, a detail view showing a singletype-bar and its actuating devices.

The type-bar segment 1 may be mounted in the rear end of ahorizontally-disposed rocking frame 2, pivoted at 3 near the front ofthe machine.

4 is the platen, and 5 type-bars, two only being shown,.pivoted in thesegment and normally lying toward the front of the machine. The type-barsegment is mounted below the plane of the platen and is arrangedvertically, or substantially so, and the type-bars pivoted thereinnormally lie away from the platen in a position horizontal, orsubstantially so.

The machine indicated is a front-stroke shifting segment machine. Theinvention is, however, applicable to other styles of machines.

Each type-bar is shown as having a projection 5 beyond its pivot, withwhich a flexing actuating device or connection 6 is joined. Thisconnection consists of a length of wire, chain, or cord, the front endof which is attached to a fixed point on the frame, which is shown as ascrew-bolt 7, seated in the front plate of the machine and having aswiveling eye 7 at its end, to which the connection 6 is attached.Finger-pieces 8, arranged in a bank in front of the type-bars, havestems 9, which respectively engage the flexing connections. In one formthe connection passes through an eye or loop 10 in the stem, which mayalso have mounted in it a roller bearing on the connection. In anotheralink on the end of the stem is connected by a loose or hinge joint withthe flexing connection, which latter would then by preference be a achain, as shown in Fig. 2.

The invention is not limited to any specific devices interposed betweenthe finger-piece and flexing connection by which the latter is flexed tothrow the type-bar to the printingpoint with a pull. When a finger-pieceis depressed, the connection 6 is flexed downwardly, its rear end beingthus caused to move toward the front of the machine to exert a pull onthe type-bar. In this operation the connection on each side of the pointof flexnre is subjected to tensile strain in a straight line, theconnection being unsupported or unattached to any part except thetype-bar, the fixed point, and the device (whatever it may be) thatproduces the flexure. The flexing connections lie in a horizontal orsubstantially horizontal position under the type-bars and as a wholeconform generally in disposition to the curve of the type-bar segment.The distance between the fixed point and point of flexure determines thedepth of depression of the fingerpiece. When being depressed, the partof the connection in front of the point of flexure swings around thefixed point as a cen ter of motion, and the part in rear swings around ashifting center of motion, which is the point of attachment to thetype-bar. This construction has a minimum number of parts. The parts areor may be very light and yet strong, since the connection is subjectedonly to tensile strain, and consequently the cost of construction issmall. This case is specifically distinguished from the aboveapplication mentioned and from the application filed jointly by myselfand Joseph M. Stoughton, May 13, 1901, Serial No. 59,948, and from myapplication filed May 13, 1901, Serial No. 59,949, by the fact that theconnection 6 is flexible at all points throughout its length. Acharacteristic feature of this type-bar-actuating mechanism is that atthe beginning of the movement of the type-bar it has a minimum velocityand opposes a minimun resistance to its actuation, the velocity andresistance increasing during the'excursion of the type-bar toward theprinting-point. At all stages of the movement, however, the touch islight and the action of the type-bar is lively and energetic.

The broad subject -'matter comprising a flexing connection extendingbetween the part or type-bar to be actuated and a fixed point, whethersuch connection be composed of jointed links or otherwise, and means forflexing the connection, whatever they maybe, is claimed in my priorapplication filed April 26, 1901. The subject-matter herein shown issubordinate to saidprior application, and the claims herein are limitedto features of construction not shown in said prior application.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a writing-machine aflexing actuatingconnection flexible throughout its length and adapted to be flexed onthe depression of a finger-piece, and having one end operativelyconnected to the part to be actuated and the opposite end connected to afixed point, and means applied to the connection intermediate its endsto swing the part thereof in front ofthe point of flexure about saidfixed point as a center of motion, and the part in rear of the point offlexure about its point of connection as a center of motion, to therebychange the angular disposition of the connection between its front andrear ends for the purpose set forth.

2. In a writing-machine, a flexing actuating connection flexiblethroughout its length and having its front end operatively connected toa fixed point, and its opposite end connected to the part to be actuatedand movable toward and from said fixed point, and means for flexing suchconnection to change its angular disposition between its end and exerttensile strain thereon from the point of flexure to its opposite endsrespectively.

3. The combination of a pivoted type-bar, its actuating connectionflexible throughout its dength adapted to be flexed on the depression ofa finger-piece and having one end operatively connected to the type-barand the opposite end connected to a fixed point, and means appliedintermediate its ends to flex it, the connection being so disposed thatwhen flexed the end connected with the type-baris caused to approachsuch fixed point.

4. The combination of a pivoted type-bar, its actuating connectionflexible throughout its length and having one end operatively connectedto the type-bar and the opposite end connected to a fixed point, afinger-piece and a device which on the depression of the fingerpieceacts to flex it and change its angular disposition between the point offlexure and its respective ends and subject it to tensile strain on bothsides of the point of flexure.

5. The combination of a pivoted type bar or carrier, its operatingconnection flexible throughout its length, operatively connected withthe type-bar at one end and at its opposite end connected with a fixedpoint, and means applied to the flexing connection intermediate its endsto depress or flex it whereby in the beginning of the movement of thetype-bar it has a minimum velocity and opposes a minimum of resistanceto its actuation, the velocity and resistance increasing during theexcursion of the type-bar toward the printing-point.

6. The combination of a pivoted type-bar having an extension orprojection beyond its pivot, a type-bar-operating connection flexiblethroughout its length, operatively connected at one end with saidprojection and at the other end attached to a fixed point, and afinger-key jointed to such connection intermediate its ends and actingto depress or deflect it, whereby in the beginning of the movement ofthe type-bar it has a minimum velocity and opposes a minimum ofresistance toits actuation, the velocity and resistance increasingduring the excursion of the typebar toward the printing-point.

7. The combination of a pivoted type-bar having an extension projectingbeyond its pivot, a type-bar-operating connection flexible throughoutits length and connected at one end directly to said projection and atthe other end to a fixed point and normally lying in such a positionthat when deflected the type-bar is actuatedby a pull upon saidprojection, and a finger-piece having a stem acting on said connectionintermediate its ends to deflect it and thereby throw the type-bar tothe printing-point.

8. The combination of a platen, a segmental type-bar support arrangedbelow the plane of the platen, type-bars pivoted therein, connectionsflexible throughout their length for operating the type-bars and eachoperatively connected at one end to its corresponding type-bar and atthe opposite end to a fixed point, and means acting upon said flexingconnections intermediate their ends for flexing them and throwing thetype-bars to the printing-point, said connections being so disposed thatwhen flexed their ends, operatively connected with the type-bars, aremoved toward such fixed points.

9. The combination of a platen, a segmental type-bar support arrangedbelow the plane of the platen and in a plane vertical or substantiallyso, type-bars pivoted in such support, normally lying away from theplaten in a position horizontal or substantially so and adapted whenactuated to strike against the front face of the platen, connectionsflexible throughout their length for operating the type-bars and eachoperatively connected at :one end to its corresponding type-bar and atthe opposite end to a fixed point, and means In testimony whereof I havehereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD B. HESS.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES P. THOMAS, CLAY MILLER.

